On the latest episode of the Pop Shop Podcast, we welcome Time’s deputy culture editor — and first-time author — Sam Lansky as a guest co-host. Keith, Katie and Sam talk about a variety of acts that see big gains on the charts in the week after Christmas – including Twenty One Pilots, who fly into the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time. The team also discuss their pop wishes for 2016, including hopes for Taylor Swift, Frank Ocean and Sugababes/Mutya Keisha Siobhan.

With 2015 drawing to a close, we invited a trio of inspirational musical minds to come through the Billboard office and talk about the year. Host Chris Payne sat down with Perfect Pussy singer/freelance writer Meredith Graves, Vulture senior editor Jillian Mapes, and Flavorwire music editor Matthew Ismael Ruiz to discuss favorite albums, life-affirming shows, 2016 hopes, and what all this means in the light of the tumultuous world we live in.

The legendary James Taylor calls in to the Billboard Pop Shop Podcast to discuss his big year -- and his first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200, Before This World. He talks about recently receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, performing at the Kennedy Center Honors (to tribute his friend Carole King), and his recent Grammy Award nomination. Also on the show, we chat about Adele's continued success at the top of the charts, our wish list of music stars we'd like to see on Broadway, and a discussion about possible contenders for best original song at the upcoming Academy Awards.

Out promoting his Springsteen-esque country-rock album "Wild Ones," Kip Moore hopped on the podcast for a revealing talk with host Chris Payne. Moore sifted through locations and aspirations for years before settling on music, and even then, fought long and hard to secure a life in Nashville.

“A Katy Perry song hits harder than a hard rock song now,” HEALTH frontman Jake Duzsik says. Yes, he’s being serious. What kind of rock musician says this? What if we told you his band made one of 2015’s must-hear albums?

Welcome to the latest episode of the Billboard.com Pop Shop Podcast, Billboard's weekly half-hour audio breakdown of the Billboard charts, hottest music news and year's biggest musical events. Casual pop fans and chart junkies can hear Billboard co-director of charts Keith Caulfield and Billboard.com senior editor Katie Atkinson every Tuesday on the free Pop Shop Podcast, which can be streamed on Billboard.com or downloaded in iTunes (click here to listen to the previous episode on Billboard.com).

Arthur Ashin -- aka the experimental R&B; project Autre Ne Veut -- will inspire you to be a better vocalist. Not much of a singer? He’ll at least get you waxing philosophical about the outer limits of soul and R&B;’s life-altering wonder.

Singer/songwriter Tori Kelly sits down for a rapid-fire Q&A; with the Pop Shop team -- discussing everything from what was the first album she bought to if her manager Scooter Braun ever sleeps. The Pop Shoppers also talk about the Justin Bieber vs. One Direction showdown for No. 1 on next week’s Billboard 200 albums chart, Elle King’s first top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 (with “Ex’s & Oh’s”), Adele’s continuing reign with “Hello,” and how the Dixie Chicks are going on their first U.S. tour in a decade.

After a great response to the Alt In Our Stars’ first foray into country -- "Country Music Is Changing (And Here’s How)" -- we’re excited to drop our second episode on that tip. Before kicking off her 2015 Fall U.S. tour at Bowery Ballroom, Ashley Monroe stopped by the Billboard office for a chat with host Chris Payne.

Following Justin Timberlake's turned-up turn at the CMAs alongside breakout awards show star Chris Stapleton, we couldn't help but talk about their "Tennessee Whiskey/Drink You Away" duet on this week's Must-Hear Music podcast.